Cooperatives in Italy: the alternative to monopoly, vulture capitalism

 I posted about these previously here, and just had the experience of visiting one recently on a trip to Italy: La Cooperative di Cortina. 

Not sure if you have a negative connotation of socialism and cooperatives, but this was a rather nice department store in Cortina, Italy, It was on the league of John Lewis Partnership in the UK, or something like a Macy's in the US.

It was a pleasant surprise for me to realise that I was in a cooperative.

And it came after seeing dogs in the stores. Although, I have gotten accustomed to seeing them in restaurants. 

Unfortunately, mine were left at home for various reasons: the major one being this was a ski vacation. We were usually out all day.

Anyway, the quality of the items was great and the prices were reasonable.

But the best part is that the workers, and some customers are members. I'm not sure what my membership with REI  (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) is, but I have belonged since I lived in Washington, DC in the late 1990s. REI brands itself as a consumer cooperative.

So, Cooperatives aren't totally alien to the US. They definitely aren't to the UK. 

On the other hand, dogs everywhere is definitely still alien in the US, but I hope for not much longer.

And here are a couple of happy pups in Cortina. 

I'm tossing in this video about Scotland's Community Wealthbuilding law, which sort of ties into the concept of cooperatives.